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Maya's appearance in Shadesmar is that of a woman[4][5][6] with scratched out eyes[4][6], though the appearance of this is similar to a painting with the features scratched out and not simply empty sockets.[5] She also has features that seem to be made of ashen brown cords the thickness of hair,[4] giving the appearance of rough cloth[5], string[7] or brown vines[8]. She is described while attacking as having long nails.[8] She appears to be a dead cultivationspren who are described as being comprised of vines with crystal hands.[2]

In the Physical Realm she appears as a Shardblade. The blade itself is shaped like a larger version of a standard longsword and bears some resemblance to the enormous two handed broadswords traditionally wielded by Horneaters. The cutting edge is smooth and sinuous, like an eel, while the back has ridges of crystal.[9]. When summoned, the mist it forms from is in the shape of vines.[3]

Not much is known about Maya's personality. Her face is devoid of emotion at all times[7][8] and she mostly communicates via screeching.[5][8] She always follows Adolin unless prevented, as deadeye spren follow or search out their corpses.[7] However, she did, of her own volition, protect him from a Fused. During the Battle of Thaylen Field, after Adolin talks to her, she tells him her name and even appears in his hand in seven heartbeats instead of the usual ten.[1] When Adolin gives her to Hrdalm, she sends him a sensation of resigned agreement.[1] This suggests that "dead" spren are actually just broken. Like Syl said, spren are more like forces, you can't truly kill them, just break them.

Mayalaran was killed by her bonded Edgedancer when they abandoned the oath that bound them, believing the Nahel Bond would bring about the destruction of Roshar the way it had humanity's homeworld.[10]

At a point before the War of Reckoning Adolin dueled a lighteyes named Tinalar. Against everyone's expectations he won the duel and secured Maya as his own. At the time her name was unknown to anyone living, and believing it to be pretentious to give her one that wasn't hers, Adolin left her unnamed. [9]

Adolin often spoke to Maya and imagined that she listened to him. He believed that something that felt like an extension of the soul itself was impossible to wield without feeling as though it too was alive.[9] This in turn may account for some of the difference in the relationship between Adolin and Mayalaran in regards to other spren.

Adolin talked with Maya before he Kaladin, Shallan and Elhokar storm Kholinar Palace. He acknowledged that she was a dead spren and that he was sorry there is nothing he could do to fix that. He thanked her for all the years they've fought together and promised to try and use her only to do good.[20]

When travelling with the Reachers, Maya was locked in a small room in the cargo hold by Captain Ico who informed them that she was a deadeye. He told Adolin that deadeyes do not watch where they're going and he couldn't have her on deck. Ico told Adolin that he should not pretend that Maya is his friend, that she was only a tool to him.[7]

At the Thaylen City Oathgate in Shadesmar Maya protected Adolin from one of the Fused without prompting. She was stabbed through with a sword but didn't react beyond screeching.[8] Later, once they make it into Thaylen City, she and Adolin faced the Thunderclast. Adolin believed she was made to fight them, being overly long for dueling, and that she wanted to fight the Thunderclast because it reminded her of when she was alive. In response she told him her name.[1] During their fight Adolin was able to summon her in only seven heartbeats after he pled with her to appear before the Thunderclast caught him.[1] After being too injured to continue he loaned Maya to Hrdalm, to which she responded with a sense of resigned agreement.[1].